Ablation system, methods, and controllers

Abstract

Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a power supply is configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes. A controller includes a touchscreen display configured to display at least a graphical representation of each electrode of the ablation system. The controller is configured to receive an interactive input for each respective electrode to select and deselect the electrode for activation, during which power may be supplied thereto, by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display. This may occur during a diagnostic mode and/or an ablation procedure run mode of the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-electrode ablation system comprising:
 a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes; and   a controller including a touchscreen display configured to display at least a graphical representation of each electrode of the ablation system, the controller being configured to receive an interactive input for each respective electrode to select and deselect the electrode for activation, during which power may be supplied thereto, by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-electrode ablation system of  claim 1  wherein the graphical representation of a selected electrode is different from the graphical representation of a deselected electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-electrode ablation system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured for operation in a diagnostic mode and an ablation procedure run mode, in the diagnostic mode the controller being configured to permit selection and deselection of the respective electrodes by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-electrode ablation system of  claim 3  wherein the controller is configured to permit selection and deselection of the respective electrodes by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display during operation of the system in the ablation procedure run mode. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-electrode ablation system of  claim 3  wherein the controller is configured to display indicia at the graphical representation of each selected electrode to indicate operation of the selected electrode in the ablation procedure run mode of the ablation system. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-electrode ablation system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configure to display a summary report following completion of the ablation procedure, the summary report including at least one of: the total number of successful ablations, average temperature, average power and average impedence. 
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling a multi-electrode ablation system, the method comprising:
 displaying on a touchscreen display a graphical representation of each electrode of the ablation system; and   selecting or deselecting a respective electrode for activation by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display, each electrode being capable of selection or deselection independent of each other electrode.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  comprising altering the graphical representation of a respective electrode in response to the respective electrode being selected or deselected. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the system is operable in a diagnostic mode and in an ablation procedure mode, the step of selecting or deselecting a respective electrode for activation being performed during the diagnostic mode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising, during the ablation procedure run mode, selecting or deselecting a respective electrode for activation by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising displaying, for each electrode activated during the ablation procedure run mode, indicia indicating the activated condition of the electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, following completion of the ablation procedure, displaying a summary report including at least one of: the total number of successful ablations, average temperature, average power and average impedence. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a multi-electrode ablation system in a diagnostic mode, the method comprising:
 displaying on a touchscreen display a graphical representation of each electrode of the ablation system;   selecting or deselecting a respective electrode for activation by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display, each electrode being capable of selection or deselection independent of each other electrode;   supplying power to each of the selected electrodes; and   displaying on the touchscreen display information indicative of whether each selected electrode is in adequate apposition with an arterial wall.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the information indicative of whether each selected electrode is in adequate apposition with an arterial wall comprises at least one of temperature, impedance and power measurements relating to each respective selected electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the information is displayed on the touchscreen display generally adjacent the graphical representation of each respective selected electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising storing, during an ablation procedure, data relating to the ablation procedure; and displaying the data on the touchscreen display upon completion of the ablation procedure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the data comprises at least one of: the number of successful ablations performed, average temperature for each electrode, average impedance for each electrode, average power for each electrode, and data indicative of conditions that caused any one of the electrodes to automatically activate during the ablation procedure.